What do you think?
Rate this book
All That Sparkles
What do a trunk full of vintage clothes, a handsome land developer, and a fifty year old diamond heist have in common? Laken Miller receives a trunk full of expensive vintage clothing and a stack of newspaper clippings about a fifty-year old diamond heist. Now all she has to do is figure out who murdered Tilly San Vicente before the killer silences her as well.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2019
3 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Diane Bator
39 books159 followersDiane Bator is a prolific, award-winning Canadian author, publisher, book coach, editor, and mom of three suddenly adults who has developed a great, although quirky sense of humor. She is the host of the Escape With a Writer blog, and started her own publishing company, Escape With a Writer, in January of 2024 to relaunch her previous 15 novels as well as newer works. She is represented by Creative Edge Publicity and available for interviews, podcasts, and so on.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 8, 2019
A light read, with plot twists to keep one guessing. Cozy readers who enjoy tea rooms, small towns and seasides will enjoy this book.
October 1, 2023
All That Sparkles is the first book in Diane Bator’s A Glitter Bay Mystery series. First glance at this cover? You get a gorgeous dress that appears to be made of jewels. For cozy mystery lovers, this cover with its chic boutique vibe gives off “cozy mystery.” You also get a sense of elegance as well from the style of dress chosen by the author for the cover. It builds a sense of intrigue as to what lies inside.
As you dip your toe into All That Sparkles you’re greeted by the main character, Laken Miller. What exactly is Laken up to when you find her? Well, she’s exploring a trunk of items that were delivered for her sister, Sage, owner of Vintage Sage boutique. Laken is a former model, so not quite what we would be expecting, but the author puts her in quite the humorous position off the cuff. Imagine opening a garment bag and a wedding dress practically spilling out! Laken’s reaction is basically gold. LOL!
After a brief introduction to Laken’s sister, Sage, the author pushes the story forward with Laken’s early morning trip to a local tea shop. Her getting there at six in the morning is surprising since she only works part-time at her sister’s shop, but you’re going to be introduced to a couple more characters here. One of the characters coming up is key to the storyline, and puts this book on its destined path to – murder!
First though, prepare to meet Sammy, the puppy! Though, as a pup – he’s quite the “terror”. Absolutely destructive. All who have had a small pup or dog in their house know all too well the destructive nature they can ensue.
When one of the characters makes a second appearance at Sage’s boutique in quite the state, things begin to fall into place. She’s upset. There is no explanation as to why, but she’s determined to get that trunk of items back. All of them. Quickly you’ll get the sense that something is direly wrong. But things just keep getting stranger from there.
Page by page the story, and the mystery angle, unfold. The mystery deepens, yet there are few answers coming forth at this time. However, Sammy is totally stealing the show. This pup gets up to a ton of antics from the minute Laken finds him moving forward. He’s either stealing steaks with the “help” of Muummuu, the cat, or he’s on the beach wrestling starfish. This pup brings humor to this story and is absolutely stealing the spotlight from both the main character, Laken, and the mystery.
One thing is for certain, and that is that this book is going to keep you engaged. A variety of characters have made appearances at this point, and you’re going to begin to question the motives of certain ones. Enid, the “busybody” is going to be one of them. There is some history there between herself, Gill, and Tilly. The question “What happened between them?” is really going to niggle at your brain. She’s not welcome at the tea shop, but she seems to know quite a bit about the goings-on there.
Buckle up though when Laken makes a big discovery. This particular element of the book will spark a fire that will draw readers further into the story fueling them to dig deeper. How is it all connected? Who was party to the crime? Were Gill and Tilly connected? What about the mysterious stranger who keeps coming to the tea shop to talk to Gill, but leaves disappointed each time? The questions are piling up, but that curiosity is going to fuel your desire to keep reading for answers.
The author plays the mystery and keeps reveals close to the chest all the way up to the final chapters. Author Bator makes sure that readers work to piece together the puzzle surrounding the mystery of the necklace, the murder, and how it all connects . There will be some clues dropped here and there, but can you figure out who is behind it all before it’s revealed? You’re not going to want to miss out on how it all ends.
One element that raises a flag is Laken mentioning finding a syringe cap…before she actually finds a syringe cap. She doesn’t discover the cap until much later in the story, but while she’s with another character, she thinks about having found it.
All That Sparkles is a real page-turner of a novel. Former model and wife turned amateur sleuth with her pet pooch, Sammy. There are some hints of romance, but tons of drama, with humor sprinkled throughout. Your favorite character more than likely will end up being fuzzy Sammy, regardless of all the mischief he gets into. He’s a pretty good sleuth when you get down to it. Just watch out for the red herrings!
So! Do you love a good cozy mystery with engaging characters? Then go out and grab your copy of All That Sparkles, the first in the Glitter Bay Cozy mystery series.
Pros:
Fun story to read
Engaging storyline from beginning to end
Good amount of mystery
Suspenseful
Has hints of romance
Lots of twists
Cons:
Mentions of Laken having cancer, but never anything specific.
“Discovery” of evidence before it actually happens.
Lesson of the story: Secrets never stay secret, and stolen items will always have someone come looking for them.
Cover Score: 8.9/10
Overall Book Score: 8.8/10
As you dip your toe into All That Sparkles you’re greeted by the main character, Laken Miller. What exactly is Laken up to when you find her? Well, she’s exploring a trunk of items that were delivered for her sister, Sage, owner of Vintage Sage boutique. Laken is a former model, so not quite what we would be expecting, but the author puts her in quite the humorous position off the cuff. Imagine opening a garment bag and a wedding dress practically spilling out! Laken’s reaction is basically gold. LOL!
After a brief introduction to Laken’s sister, Sage, the author pushes the story forward with Laken’s early morning trip to a local tea shop. Her getting there at six in the morning is surprising since she only works part-time at her sister’s shop, but you’re going to be introduced to a couple more characters here. One of the characters coming up is key to the storyline, and puts this book on its destined path to – murder!
First though, prepare to meet Sammy, the puppy! Though, as a pup – he’s quite the “terror”. Absolutely destructive. All who have had a small pup or dog in their house know all too well the destructive nature they can ensue.
When one of the characters makes a second appearance at Sage’s boutique in quite the state, things begin to fall into place. She’s upset. There is no explanation as to why, but she’s determined to get that trunk of items back. All of them. Quickly you’ll get the sense that something is direly wrong. But things just keep getting stranger from there.
Page by page the story, and the mystery angle, unfold. The mystery deepens, yet there are few answers coming forth at this time. However, Sammy is totally stealing the show. This pup gets up to a ton of antics from the minute Laken finds him moving forward. He’s either stealing steaks with the “help” of Muummuu, the cat, or he’s on the beach wrestling starfish. This pup brings humor to this story and is absolutely stealing the spotlight from both the main character, Laken, and the mystery.
One thing is for certain, and that is that this book is going to keep you engaged. A variety of characters have made appearances at this point, and you’re going to begin to question the motives of certain ones. Enid, the “busybody” is going to be one of them. There is some history there between herself, Gill, and Tilly. The question “What happened between them?” is really going to niggle at your brain. She’s not welcome at the tea shop, but she seems to know quite a bit about the goings-on there.
Buckle up though when Laken makes a big discovery. This particular element of the book will spark a fire that will draw readers further into the story fueling them to dig deeper. How is it all connected? Who was party to the crime? Were Gill and Tilly connected? What about the mysterious stranger who keeps coming to the tea shop to talk to Gill, but leaves disappointed each time? The questions are piling up, but that curiosity is going to fuel your desire to keep reading for answers.
The author plays the mystery and keeps reveals close to the chest all the way up to the final chapters. Author Bator makes sure that readers work to piece together the puzzle surrounding the mystery of the necklace, the murder, and how it all connects . There will be some clues dropped here and there, but can you figure out who is behind it all before it’s revealed? You’re not going to want to miss out on how it all ends.
One element that raises a flag is Laken mentioning finding a syringe cap…before she actually finds a syringe cap. She doesn’t discover the cap until much later in the story, but while she’s with another character, she thinks about having found it.
All That Sparkles is a real page-turner of a novel. Former model and wife turned amateur sleuth with her pet pooch, Sammy. There are some hints of romance, but tons of drama, with humor sprinkled throughout. Your favorite character more than likely will end up being fuzzy Sammy, regardless of all the mischief he gets into. He’s a pretty good sleuth when you get down to it. Just watch out for the red herrings!
So! Do you love a good cozy mystery with engaging characters? Then go out and grab your copy of All That Sparkles, the first in the Glitter Bay Cozy mystery series.
Pros:
Fun story to read
Engaging storyline from beginning to end
Good amount of mystery
Suspenseful
Has hints of romance
Lots of twists
Cons:
Mentions of Laken having cancer, but never anything specific.
“Discovery” of evidence before it actually happens.
Lesson of the story: Secrets never stay secret, and stolen items will always have someone come looking for them.
Cover Score: 8.9/10
Overall Book Score: 8.8/10
October 1, 2023
The Review
This was a compelling and delightful cozy mystery read. The rich atmosphere and powerful imagery the author’s writing style brought out allowed the reader to feel both transported into this narrative and engaged in the witty banter and gripping character development that the story brought to life.
The way the author was able to craft a thoughtful mystery while also providing memorable imagery throughout this story, from the dynamic vintage clothing that started this journey to the tense moments of the heist that drive this story forward. The layer of romance that the story brings forth is a great balance to the overall narrative and allows the characters to become more relatable and engaging overall.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, entertaining, and captivating, author Diane Bator’s “All That Sparkles” is a must-read mystery novel and a great entry in the brand new Glitter Bay Mysteries series. The twists and turns the narrative takes on and the shocking revelations, as well as the impactful and emotional bonds that the characters form with one another, make this a fantastic start to a brand-new mystery series.
This was a compelling and delightful cozy mystery read. The rich atmosphere and powerful imagery the author’s writing style brought out allowed the reader to feel both transported into this narrative and engaged in the witty banter and gripping character development that the story brought to life.
The way the author was able to craft a thoughtful mystery while also providing memorable imagery throughout this story, from the dynamic vintage clothing that started this journey to the tense moments of the heist that drive this story forward. The layer of romance that the story brings forth is a great balance to the overall narrative and allows the characters to become more relatable and engaging overall.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, entertaining, and captivating, author Diane Bator’s “All That Sparkles” is a must-read mystery novel and a great entry in the brand new Glitter Bay Mysteries series. The twists and turns the narrative takes on and the shocking revelations, as well as the impactful and emotional bonds that the characters form with one another, make this a fantastic start to a brand-new mystery series.
March 17, 2021
Diane Bator crafts a cozy mystery that is quick-paced, complex and entertaining. Setting her story in a small town, Diane seizes the opportunity to develop unique local characters and includes a myriad of small details to help readers get to know them well. The plot is a solid one that maintains tension until the final pages. Looking forward to the sequel!
May 4, 2021
This was a delightful read. I fell in love with the characters and enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot. My first cozy mystery and not my last. I am ready to dig into Bator's other glittery treasures.
April 10, 2019
All that Sparkles is a small-town mystery set in Glitter Bay, involving a tea house, a dress, diamonds and folk-town gossip. It's an enjoyable read if you're a fan of this genre. The story is told in the first-person from Laken's point of view. Laken is a woman struggling to recover from various personal problems, among them her bout with cancer. Having the main character dealing with such a struggle is a refreshing change from the norm, to say the least. In addition, her independence and how she re-invents herself after going through personal woes are wonderful characterizations.
I won't give any spoilers away - read the book! - but there were some areas that definitely felt too contrived. The sense of mystery also seemed to flow and ebb at various points in the book rather than permeating entirely throughout the novel. All-in-all, the book is an enjoyable read for an afternoon... in a teahouse.
I won't give any spoilers away - read the book! - but there were some areas that definitely felt too contrived. The sense of mystery also seemed to flow and ebb at various points in the book rather than permeating entirely throughout the novel. All-in-all, the book is an enjoyable read for an afternoon... in a teahouse.
January 30, 2020
This was a good mixture of romance and mystery,
April 2, 2021
Really enjoyed this book, a murder mystery, revolving around a fashion show, with lots of twists and turns. Had some adorable, funny characters whom I loved finding out about.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews